The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-12-20

SlLOuSCE COLflCIlO1 IIldIl the COIlVlC-
ton that the whiskey tax was per-
tectly just and wholly unobjection-
able except on the ground that it
was a direct tax. There was moth
ing produced, owned and consumed
that could supply the government
with ninety millions of revenue,
with more propriety or less injury to
any human being than whiskey.
He had never heard any valid
reason and did not believe there
was any valid reason why whiskey
drinkers should be relieved from the
payment Of this tax, and why the
revenue which it yielded should be
extorted by tariff from consumers of
necessariss of | fe. He knew of no
better use to which whiskry could
be applied than to the production of
ninety millions OF revenue to pay
pensions AMI interest on the war
debt, instead nt extortiug that
amount from harmless consunIp-
ton of imported articles. Who in
sisted, he asked, that the luxury of
Whiskey drinkers, should be freed
from the burdsns? Who declared
that there should be no REVISION of
the tariff until every internal reve-
nue. tax WAS repealed? Was it not
the cry that comes loudest and ferc-
est from manufacturers and their
representatives? Most defiant, un-
comprising advocates of free vhis-
key were manufacturers of pro
tected articles. AS general com
promise he would repeal the inter-
nal tax on tobacco for the sole rea-
son that tobacco was an agricultural
product and let the tax on whiekey
stand for future consideration. He
declared that he would vote for no
duty on any article manufactured
in the United States that would
cripple any home industry or i'm
pair the ability of home competi-
ton. No people, he said, had ever
submitted so long to robbery on the
part of their own government and
those who opposed a revision o. the
tariff at the risk of financial panic
and industrial paralysis became
parties to this robbery and became
political criminals. Both the Re-
publican and Democratic parties
had promised to reduce the in
come to the wants of the govern
ment and it was trifiing for Repub-
licans to charge upon the Demo-
cratic party the blame of failure to
revise the tariff. This Congress
could not adjourn until such change
was made in the revenue laws as
would stop the flow OF money from
the people into the national treas
ury beyond the needs CT govern
ment. He would put on the free
list chemicals, raw wool of all low
grades, salt, and might be willing to
add other articles to the free list.
He was not in favor, however, Of
putting iron ore on the free list.
Doing so would be regarded by ore
land owners and ore workers of Ala
bama, Tennessee, Virginia and
West Virginia, as an act
Of unjust Discrimination in favor Of
frTeign iron ores. As to pig iron,
on which the present duty was S672
per ton, he believed a duty of $500
per Ton would be ample, He made
these remarks to show that there
was not the least danger to iron ore
and pic iron interests from any re-
duction of tariff.
President Cleveland had in his
recent annual message shown a
courage and patriotism never exhib-
tied before by any puDlic man in
his position and with his surround
ings. There could be no mistake as |
to what the President believe d to be
the paramount duty of Congress.
There was not single sentence in
his message that was not the
truth and the whole truth.
At the close of Mr. Pugh's Fea
marks the resolution was ordered 10
lie on the table.
Mr.. Blair gave notice that he
would to morrow ask the Senate to
proceed to the consideration of ths
educational bill.
Altef OfIeI executive session the |
Senate, at 4.45, adjourned,
HoUsE.-The Speaker announced |
the appointement of the committee
on rules as follows The Speaker,
and Messrs, Randall, Mills, Reed
and Cannon.
Cox OF New York offered reso-
ution authorizing the Speaker to
employ Clerk to compile ques-
tions of order raised and decided on !
the general appropriation and rev
enue bills, by including those points
Of order raised during the Ash and |
49th Congress. At the suggestion
of Randall, the resolution was re-.
ferre1 to the committee On rules.